Posted by anonymous on February 25, 1999, at 15:48:52
In reply to Side Effects and Medication Changes, posted by Pat on February 24, 1999, at 19:06:15
> I have been under treatment for depression, anxiety and insomina for some time now. Every drug I've tried has had unacceptable levels of side effects for me. On Prozac, I got gastritis from high levels of acid. I had sexual side effects with Paxil. I had relentless insomnia on Zoloft. Deseryl and Serzone both made me freaked out and sleepless. I gained 7 pounds in one week on Remeron, three pounds week two, and so on. I am so tired of all the sleepless nights trying new meds that keep me awake and all the disappointment when new meds make me sick or fat or whatever. At this point, my psychiatrist wants me to come in to the office early next week to try another drug. I'm considering looking at alternative therapy like acupuncture and chinese herbs. I've never had panic attacks (except associated with drug withdrawal from some of these meds), I've never been so low I couldn't work, eat, take care of my kids, etc. I've been on drugs to sleep for so long I don't even know any more if I still would have insomnia or not, if I wasn't dependent on one drug or another to sleep (most recently atavan). Does anyone have any experience with alternative therapies for milder cases like mine? Has anyone EVER gotten any treatment for depression that worked without horrible side effects? I'm really torn about whether to continue with the psyciatrist or to just give up.
Many side effects go away with time. Your body adapts to them and they disappear. If you have the sexual side effects, try Wellbutrin. You might also consider Zantac with Prozac to help with the acid. Did you take it on a full stomach? I think you may be addicted to sleepers, too, and this doesn't help. Tolerance, you know.
poster:anonymous
thread:3201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990301/msgs/3231.html